I know the Interwebs runs on cute cat videos, one giggly gigabyte at a time, but I'm definitely more of a dog person.   I have the very good fortune to be able to write a regular column for a local lifestyle publication, 425 Magazine. I work with the editor to come up with themes every issue for my Flavor column, which is normally food/drink, but I did a twist on dog-friendly spaces, since it's summer and it's a great time to include our fuzzy friends on our sunshine-filled adventures!

It's been an amazing summer, Pacific Northwest, I have to hand it to you -- and I don't mind that you haven't been in a hurry to depart. It's nice to enjoy the in-between of Summer and Fall -- which I'd just like to name Summerfall. You're not quite ready to pull out the winter coats, you can still wear summery flats, and you're walking around in a flutter of rapidly-changing leaves.

Can you not already tell how much I'm making the most of these waning days of sun-filled skies? It had been a long time since we had left the homestead to visit family -- the Mister and I joined a gathering with his grandfather, who will be turning 90 (we celebrated early -- why not??). We all met up at his aunt and uncle's house in Brewster, which is just outside of Chelan, if you're familiar with that part of Washington State. If you've never headed out there, you should -- it's a uniquely beautiful landscape, so different from what we see on our evergreen, tree-filled horizon.

I know it's been a steady stream of summer flowers, blooms and dogs -- but this is a personal blog, and I feel like it should reflect what's happening in one's life. I haven't been super excited about things to buy or what's "on trend," instead, I've been inspired more by special moments and experiences. I've always said that Real Life informs how we express ourselves, in work, appearance, etc. It's been a year of emotional up's and down's, and I feel like more than ever, I need the simple but powerful inspiration of life around me, and not what's in a magazine or on a store shelf.

Gather ye flowers, while ye may... I remember when we first bought our house and the yard was a huge canvas full of possibilities. I wanted to fill it with every possible plant, and there have been as many failures as there have successes in terms of my Green Thumb. It's taken many years, and I don't always baby the yard with the attention it needs, but I'm thankful so many plants have accepted my Neglectful Gardening method and continue to flourish from year to year.

I'm falling in love with the Fine Art of Doing Nothing. I wouldn't call it being lazy -- you're still doing things like having backyard barbecues, sitting around with a cocktail in hand on a hot day, and just taking a moment to soak in the Nothingness. And it can be in your yard or someone else's, as we've been yard-hopping all summer at friends' houses.

It's hard to get excited about things in stores when it's more inspiring to be outside. I admit to never being a huge fan of summer, what with the uncomfortable hot days and lugging the garden hose to water plants on long stretches of no rain. But I've become a convert to the Pacific Northwest summers -- it's about being chill and taking the time to appreciate the little things. I love that I don't have to travel far to visit a year-round favorite place that's especially stunning during summer -- the Willows Lodge hotel in Woodinville.

The Birdy is BACK! Or more to the point, the Birdy didn't really fly the coop, she stayed on terra firma and had a quiet few days off to tend to the homefront. I did not, in fact, make it to Hell-on-Earth-Nevada for the aforementioned trip, but I kept with the vacation days off and spent the much-needed break savoring some quality time with the Mister and our dear pup, Indy, who was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia last October.

I'm going on vacation. I think. I hope...? You would think one would be sure about such serious matters like taking some time off. But my plan is to take a week off from the bloggosphere and have a long overdue visit with family and friends in the annual Scorch Yourself Alive summer trip to Las Vegas. I'm scheduled to meet up with my parents who are there for a reunion and my BFF from college, a gal I affectionately refer to as the Angry Peanut. I took this photo a couple of years ago at the Bellagio, visiting their beautiful atrium garden, which they change seasonal and holiday themes regularly. I don't gamble, I just go to look at stuff like this. Vegas hates people like me.

Despite plane tickets being bought (with insurance) and hotel rooms reserved, I may cancel if our pup Indy isn't doing well. My biggest fear is not being here if her health takes a sharp turn for the worst;the last time I left for just an overnight trip, the Mister had to take her to the ER. So, we'll see. I've got a vacation I think/I hope I'll be going on. Keep your fingers crossed for me. And Indy. 

Jaunty Fine Print: Photo by Denise Sakaki

Fear not, Summerlings, it's not Labor Day yet! This Bird has never got with the program over that old fashion of rule of "no wearing white after Labor Day." And no one else follows this either, it's just a common turn-of-phrase nowadays. But it got me thinking about why white is so lovely for summer, and how touches of gold can make a look ladylike, crisp, and dancing along the edge of preppy-sweet. 

Summer Onwards! Have you made the seasonal switch to full Summer Mode? Unlike winter's chill, where we're piling on every scrap of clothing we own, summer is the opposite -- minimalism is the way to go, with light, comfortable clothing. The focus should be on the items that aren't subject to fit or size -- mainly, our skin and its protection from that great burning orb in the sky. Skincare is the priority for summer -- keep sunscreen handy, a wide-brimmed hat to shade your face, sunglasses to ward off glare, and a slouchy, casual bag to fit all the fun stuff you'll want to tote around, from beach party to picnic BBQ.

This Birdy is having a beach party in her bird-brain and you're all invited. Can you not tell how totally in Vacation Mode my mind is right now?! And I have no fabulous sandy beach-filled vacation plans in my future, so just call it a Mood of Summer Aquamarine Blues. Of all the summery colors, the liquid-blue, almost minty hue of Aqua makes me long for clear blue ocean waters.

Season of InBetween

I'm starting to feel that slight chill in the air, and yet still able to wear shorts and flip-flops on warm afternoons - tis the season of InBetween. Not quite fall yet, and summer continues to linger, we're at the point where we don't want to mothball our warm weather clothes, but you don't want to haul out the wool coat, either. What to do? Light layers and celebrate those favorite summery pieces for their last, precious wearings for the year.

summer sunset

It's not over till we're swathed in Polartec, but the writing's on the wall -- summer is nearly over! But that's not to say this Birdy is not soaking up every gorgeous moment Mother Nature gifts us, especially after a spell of much-needed rainstorms. These dramatic summer skies have been incredible!

stay cool

Is it too late to shout SUMMER BREAK? This Birdy is getting ready to fly the coop for a few days. Just a short trip, but one I've been looking forward to. An annual trek to the hot deserts of Nevada to meet up with family for a reunion, plus seeing an old friend. 

Don't even THINK about walking out the door in those clunky rain boots! And don't get me started on all the Uggs I see people still wearing. It's summer, and even your feet deserve a wardrobe refresher. Time for some Jaunty suggestions to dress your feet fashionably and even (gasp) comfortably!
 

Summer can feel a little stressful. Travel plans! Throwing the perfect summer party! Bathing suit shopping! Blech. Frankly, whoever made those must-do's for summer can have that list and keep it to themselves. We can still enjoy and appreciate the season accordingly, but with easy-breezy ease. 
 

Tis the season for outdoor cooking! We dusted off the backyard grill a while back and have been cooking outside more -- and it doesn't even have to be perfect weather. Not that it's ever stopped a Pacific Northwesterner -- we've even been known to grill in the snow! It's true that everything just tastes better when you eat it outside, especially on a nice day. So to inspire us for this summer, the Bird is going to put you in a Jaunty Grilling Mood. 
 

No, the Birdy has yet to read The Book that has most of America's housewives and moms all in a blush. I just couldn't resist a play on words with a neutral that is provocatively perennial, no Safe Word required. We're coming into that period of in-between seasons where it's not quite fall, but not exactly the heat of summer. You can wear open-toed sandals one day and throw on a light sweater the next, and all we can do is wonder when we can pack away the summer wear into storage and pull out the winter wardrobe. It's a veritable mid-seasonal 50 Shades of Gray-Area for what to wear, so I wanted to celebrate this in-between time with one of my favorite neutrals. 

One of the reasons I love gray is because it comes in so many subtle variations, whether it's a warm, minky hue or a cool, silver neutral. With bright, bold colors everywhere, it's tricky to find a neutral to balance those out, and I think gray is the perfect shade; it's elegant and a very complimentary neutral. Black makes neon colors look  too retro-80s. As much as we may dream, life is not one big Robert Palmer video. White makes bright colors feel like you're on a permanent vacation, which is fine if you live somewhere tropical, but no one wants to dress like you're set for the beach when living in the city.  

So here's to the Shades of Gray, and much like the aforementioned book, it's hardly vanilla: {1} Eileen Fisher Shibori knit scarf in stone, {2} Big Buddha clutch in grey, {3} Gray and orange crepe de chine three quarter sleeve sheath dress by Tahari {4} Silk strapless mini by Parker in houndstooth, {5} Vanward enamel rings in mint and gray from Anthropologie, {6} Kahel leather jacket by Rebecca Minkoff, {7} ThinkSpot faux suede covered notepads in gray, {8} Amanda by L.A.M.B in grey leather, {9} Blouson jersey dress by Graham and Spencer, {10} Gold rung glass earrings in grey from Anthropologie, {11} Symone by Calvin Klein in mink suede, {12} Heather gray ombre cashmere creneck boyfriend sweather by Hayden

Jaunty Fine Print: images from shops listed above

Summer Lovin' having a blast... summer lovin' happened so fast! This Bird never thought she'd say it, but I'll be a little sad to see the summer days end. I know there's still likely another month's worth of beautiful sunsets, warm afternoons and the twilight hours stretching much longer than they would in the dearth of winter. But I can already feel that slight nip in the nighttime air, a crispness that signals an autumnal approach.  

Maybe it was too many years spent in the crazy heat of Arizona, but summertime was never my favorite season. I loved the idea of being on break from school, but I remember by the time August would roll around, I would be in a state of constant dread, already mourning my loss of lazy days and no homework. Thankfully no more studies and pop quizzes, just a steady pace of balancing work and taking time to fall back in love with a season full of color-explosion sunsets and lazy afternoons. Speaking of lazy, I'm off to enjoy the rest of the day -- see ya!

Jaunty Fine Print: photograph by Denise Sakaki